Electric switch



ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed. sep@ 1947 INVENTOR.

NICH OLAS RBABAJOFF Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Nicholas R. abajo, Birmingham, Mich., assgnor to Akrt Industries, Incorporated, Farmington, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,652

(Cl. 20G- 54) 3 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a closet light and more particularly to a battery-operated light adapted to be positioned Within a closet not equipped with a conventional electric light outlet.

According to the present invention, the battery light is fastened to a wall adjacent to the door and has as witch-actuating element projecting therefrom adapted to be engaged by the door. When the door is closed the switch-actuating element is pressed inwardly with respect to the light, thereby opening the circuit to a light bulb. When the door is opened spring means return the plunger to its outward, circuit-closing position. In order to prevent undesired use of the light when the door is open, the switch actuator is rotatable to a position in which it retains the circuit open irrespective of the inward or outward positioning of the actuating element.

The closet light involves a novel construction of case in which a flat, generally rectangular case is formed of two similar sections adapted to be assembled together in edge-abutting relation and to be held in such position by a spring clip. The battery light further comprises a novel arrange-y ment providing a pocket for protecting the light bulb and at the same time providing for unobstructed escape of light in a useful direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery light characterized by the simplicity of its construction and assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in a closet light, switch-actuating means including a door-operated actuator longitudinally movable between circuit-opening and closing position and rotatable between a position in which the circuit may be opened or closed by inward movement of the actuator and a position in which outward movement of the actuator is ineffective to close the circuit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in a closet light of the character described, a two-part casing adapted to be assembled together and retained in assembled position by a spring clip.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel construction of bulb-receiving pocket in a battery light of the character described.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a p0rtion of the closet illustrating the mounting of the light adjacent the closet door;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the assembled closet light;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of the shells making up the light with the batteries, bulb and switch assembled therein;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the other shell making up the battery light;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the assembled battery light;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the switch mechanism illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modification of the switch element; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modied form of switch actuator.

Referring now to Figure l, there is illustrated a portion of a closet including a wall I0 having a door jam Il against which the door I2 closes. Mounted on the jam l I is the closet battery light 20 which is shown retained in position by screws 2 l.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, the battery light comprises a first shell 25 having a bottom wall 26, side walls 21, an end wall 28 and a second end wall 29 having short, inwardly extending wall portions 30. Formed on the bottom wall 26 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a rib 3|, the outer portion of which is enlarged as indicated at 32 in Figure 5. The end wall 28 is provided with a half round recess 33 for the reception of the stem of a switch-actuating plunger 34. Side walls 21 are provided with opposed slots or grooves 35 and 36 for the reception of transverse insulating strips 31 and 38, respectively. The strip 31 is provided with a resilient contact 40 including an attaching rivet 4I, the lower end of which is adapted to engage a contact of a small cylindrical dry cell 42. The contact 40 includes a notched portion at its free end adapted to engage the conducting shell 43 of a light bulb 44. At the other side of the strip 31 is a resilient contact 45 adapted to engage the end contact 46 of the bulb 44, the contact 45 being secured to the strip 31 by a conducting rivet 48 adapted to engage one end of the second cylindrical battery 0r dry cell 42.

The insulating strip 38 is provided with a resilient contact 50 secured thereto by a rivet 5|, the contact 50 having a reversely bent portion adapted to engage a contact at one end of the dry cell 42. The other end of the conducting strip 38 has a pair of resiilent contacts 52 and 53 secured thereto by a rivet 54 which establishes electrical coritact between the contacts 52 and 53. The contact 52 is adapted to engage one end of the dry cell 42 and the contact 53 serves as a contact element of the switch.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that the inner end of the contact is bent upwardly, and in the relative position of parts shown the free end of the contact 53 is spaced slightly above the inner end of the contact 50.

The switch actuator 34 is provided with a head 55 having a relatively deep transverse notch 55 extending thereacross. Also, and as best seen in Figure 5, the free end of the contact 53 is bent so as to form a knife edge 51 which is adapted to register with the notch 56 when the actuator 34 is turned.

With the parts in the position shown in Figure 3, the transverse groove 55 is turned out of registry with the knife edge 51 so that even though the switch actuator 34 is in its outermost position, the circuit is not completed. If, however, the actuator 34 is turned through 90 to the position shown in Figure 5, the resilient contact 53 engages the inner end of contact 50, thus completing the circuit.

The other half of the casing is best illustrated in Figure 4 and comprises a shell 60 having a `bottom wall 6|, side walls 62, one end wall 63 and a second end wall 64. The end wall 54 is continu.- ous across the shell 60 and is provided with a pair of short, inwardly extending walls adapted to register with the inwardly extending walls 30 previously described. Also located centrally on the bottom wall 6| is a boss 66 carrying a resilient spring clip 61 adapted to engage the rib 3| as previously described.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the short, inwardly extending walls 30 and 65 and the end wall 64 of the shell 90 form a pocket generally designated 1|) in which the bulb 44 is received. The bulb 44 underlies the continuous portion of the end wall G4 but is exposed through the discontinuous end and bottom walls formed on the shell 25.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is illustrated a slightly different embodiment of the switch actuator 34. In this case the head 55 of the actuator 34 is provided with two transverse grooves. One

of these grooves, as illustrated at 80, is a rela-` tively deep groove, and extending transversely to the relatively deep groove is a second relatively shallow groove 8|. The relative depth of grooves and 8| is such that when the knife edge 51 of the switch element is in registry with the relatively deep groove 80, it may engage the free end of the contact 50. However, when the actuator 34 is rotated through 90 so that the knife edge 51 is in registry with the relatively shallow groove `8|, the free end of the switch contact element 53 is retained out of engagement with the contact 50. However, in both of the two positions referred to above the resilient contact 53 serves to resist rotation of the switch actuator 34 and accordingly prevents inadverent rotation thereof.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. In this case a different type of switch is provided. This switch comprises spaced contact plates and 9| secured to a supporting insulator strip 92 as by rivets 93. Contact plates preferably have reversely bent resilient contact portions 94 and 95, respectively, which engage end contacts of the dry cells 42.

Associated with the xed contacts 90 and 9| l:is a bridging contact element 96 which has a relatively short, fiat, central portion 91 and a pair of inclined camming and contact legs 98 and 99. The flat portion 91 is provided centrally thereof with an opening |00, the sides of which are bent upwardly as illustrated to form a spring-retaining seat.

Carried by the insulator plate 92 is a, U-shaped guide and spring housing |0| having legs |02 and |03 interconnected by an intermediate portion |04. The intermediate portion |04 is provided centrally thereof with a downwardly extending depression or opening |05 which serves as a spring-retaining seat. The legs |02 and |03 are each provided with downwardly extending tabs |06 adapted to extend through openings in the insulator plate 92 and to be clinched over to thereby support the structure on the insulator plate.

As before, the insulator plate is provided with a central opening which registers with a similar opening in the end wall of the casing and an actuator element is provided having a headed portion |01 and a plunger portion |08 which extends through the opening in the insulator plate.

The headed portion |01 of the actuator cornprses a substantially fiat-sided body provided with an upwardly extending pin |09 adapted to pass through the opening |00 formed in the switch element 96 to retain the parts assembled.

The assembly of parts is best seen in Figure 7. Referring to this figure, it will be noted that the headed portion |01 of the actuator underlies the switch element 96, the pin |09 extending through the opening |00 in the switch element. A compression spring ||0 is provided and seats at one end against the upper inner surface of the switch element 96, being retained against lateral displacement thereon by the upwardly extending sides of the opening |00. The upper end of the spring l i0 bears against the intermediate portion |04 of the element ||J| and is retained against lateral displacement therefrom by the inwardly extending detent or walls of the opening |05.

The minor dimension of the headed portion |01 of the actuator is of substantially the same width as the length of the central portion 91 of the switch actuator. The major dimension of the headed portion |01 is substantially greater than the length of the central portion 91 of the switch actuator. Accordingly, with the parts in the relative position illustrated in Figure '1, the flat central portion 91 of the switch element will rest against the upper flat surface of the headed portion |01 of the actuator. If, however, the actuator is rotated about its axis the rounded ends of the headed portions |01 will engage the inclined legs 98, 99 of the switch element, exerting a camming action thereon which will move the switch element 96 inwardly away from the xed contacts 90 and 9|, thereby opening the circuit. When the switch actuator is turned so that the major dimension of the headed portion |01 is in such position as to permit closure of the circuit, actuation of the switch may be by bodily movement of the switch actuator in and out without rotation thereof. This affords the possibility of employing the switch to permit control of the light solely by the door |2 or if preferred will permit the switch to be turned to circuit-opening position so that opening of the door I2 will be ineffective to energize the light,-

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved closet light in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A switch comprising a casing having a wall provided with an opening therethrough, a pair of spaced contacts in said casing at opposite sides of the wall opening, a bridging contact element in said casing adapted to engage said contacts, said element being in the form of a strip having a short central portion and oppositely disposed legs disposed at a small angle to the plane of said central portion, resilient means biasing said element toward circuit-closing position, an actuator having a headed portion whose width is substantially equal to the length of the central portion of said element and a greater length, whereby rotation of said actuator cams said element to circuit-opening position.

2. A switch comprising a casing having a wall provided with an opening therethrough, a pair of spaced contacts in said casing at opposite sides of the wall opening, a bridging contact element in said casing adapted to engage said contacts, said element being in the form of a strip having a short central portion and oppositely disposed legs disposed at a small angle to the plane of said central portion, resilient means biasing said element toward circuit-closing position, an actuator having a headed portion whose width is substantially equal to the length of the central portion of said element and a greater length, whereby rotation of said actuator cams said element to circuit-opening position, said actuator having a plunger portion extending outwardly through the wall opening and operable either by turning or inward bodily movement to move said element to circuit-opening position.

NICHOLAS R. BABAJOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2o Number Name Date 1,095,382 Clorius May 5, 1914 1,107,646 Benedict Aug. 18, 1914 1,326,380 Veigel Dec. 30, 1919 1,699,601 Appleton Jan. 22, 1929 1,968,090 Muldoon July 31, 1934 1,981,213 Zwierzynski Nov. 20, 1934 2,156,443 Zook May 2, 1939 2,156,462 Schulte May 2, 1939 2,156,463 Schulte May 2, 1939 2,256,641 Fullmer Sept. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 442,560 Germany Mar. 24, 1925 

